ROMA LEVEE FLOOD STAGE 2

Roma is situated on Bungil Creek, a tributary of the Condamine River and is 480 km NW of Brisbane with a population of approximately 7,000. 

In March 2010, Roma experienced its worst floods in over 100 years. Flooding also occurred in April 2011, a year of record rainfall in Roma. In early February 2012, Roma was devastated by its worst floods in history, eclipsing the level reached in 2010. There were 444 homes inundated, twice as many as were flooded in the two previous years. After three successive years of flooding, residents were unable to obtain insurance from some insurers unless action was taken to mitigate the flood risk in Roma. Previous flood mitigation was insufficient for the level of flooding being experienced.

GHD completed the design, ecological and overtopping assessments, the hydrology and hydraulic studies along with the flood mitigation project operations and Maintenance Manual. Geofabrics in consultation with Maranoa Regional Council and GHD, provided design suggestions and cost saving solutions via the use of larger Gabions and optimising unit configurations, while maintaining the intent and function of the original design.

Maranoa Council tendered the installation by invitation. Concrib Pty Ltd were selected as the successful contractor to supply the 13 t excavator and labour. Geofabrics supplied bidim geotextile, Maccaferri double twisted mesh Gabions and Reno Mattresses.
Maranoa Council’s works programme for the installation was a time frame of eight weeks.  

Concrib Pty Ltd were able to achieve installation in five weeks with a crew of 10 labourers. The planned process was to have several small highly skilled crews with years of experience in Gabion and Reno Mattress installation managing different parts of the project such as:

​•    Prefabricating cages
•    Setting up cages
•    Filling cages
•    Closing cages

This ensured continuity and speed of installation. 

The project was also successful due to excellent planning by Maranoa Regional Council which included:  

•    Bulk and preparatory earthworks
•    Access provided to work areas
•    Delivery of rock to work areas
•    Correct rock spec (DTMR) with regards to size of rocks

The Council and contractor also had to manage potential flooding of work areas which required areas to be completed and secured at the end of each day to ensure minimal damage in the event of rain. 

In total 572 m3 of Gabions over three sizes and 4008 m2 of 230 mm deep Reno Mattresses were installed.

The Roma Flood Levee Stage 2 consists of a diversion channel to the east of Bungil Creek and an extension of the current Western Levee to the West of Bungil Creek. Stage 2 is designed to work with the existing Stage 1 which protects 480 properties to reduce the risk of above floor flooding to an estimated additional 51 properties. The Levee is complete in time for summer storms and potential flood events.

Geofabrics has over thirty years’ experience in designing and supplying Gabion and Reno Mattress structures. The qualified Geofabrics Tech Hub team offers designers, engineers and asset owners assistance in fine tuning designs to maximize efficiency and cost effectiveness.

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Roma Flood Levee Stage 2